Michigan needed Denard Robinson back in the lineup if the Wolverines were to bounce back from a 23-9 loss to the Nebraska Huskers...

Right?

Not exactly.

Prior to Saturday's game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Michigan coach Brady Hoke announced that Robinson wouldn't start, and that former backup Devin Gardner would take over duties in his absence.

Bad news was on the way, or so some thought.

Gardner wasn't really expected to be a star; rather, he was expected to manage the offense and help Michigan squeak by with a victory.

But that didn't happen.

Instead, the Wolverines got the quarterback they recruited, and Gardner threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns in a convincing 35-13 Big Ten victory over the Gophers in Minneapolis.

Robinson's reliever completed 12 of 18 passes and threw just one interception. However, he made plenty of drive-extending plays with his feet, too, rushing for a modest 21 yards and a touchdown.

Desmond Morgan Isn't a Bad Second Fiddle

Desmond Morgan doesn't get the attention that he deserves. Playing alongside Jake Ryan does that, but that doesn't mean Morgan isn't due for a little respect.

His hit on Donnell Kirkwood in the first quarter set the tone—Minnesota knew after that collision that running the ball would be difficult.

And it was.

Kirkwood couldn't gain yards and Morgan was all over him from the start. Morgan also helped force a Gophers field goal in the fourth quarter after nearly intercepting a pass from Gophers quarterback Philip Nelson.

Morgan's pressure on Nelson forced the Gophers to the air, then back to the ground, and then back to the air—they just couldn't adjust for Morgan's intensity.

Drew Dileo Is an X-Factor Player

Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIREDrew Dileo had time for a nap prior to his wide-open 45-yard touchdown catch.

Drew Dileo couldn't have been more open in the second quarter when he hauled in a 45-yard touchdown pass from a scrambling Devin Gardner, who backtracked from the right side of the field to the left prior to lobbing the ball into the end zone.

Comeback Throw to Gallon Has to Go

Dave Reginek/Getty ImagesNo more comebacks to Jeremy Gallon, please.

Whatever it's called, it doesn't work and shouldn't be a part of the Wolverines offense.

The "comeback" throw—as I'll call it right now—to Jeremy Gallon is simply a waste of a down. Michigan ran the same play last week during its loss to Nebraska. Late in the fourth quarter, then-quarterback Russell Bellomy faked a hand-off, circled to his left, and threw to Gallon, who made a stride back toward Bellomy prior to the throw.

It was almost a pick-six then, and it was nearly one Saturday when Devin Gardner tried it in the first quarter.

Michigan Isn't Intimidated by Bruising Backs (Not from Alabama)

Donnell Kirkwood was rendered ineffective thanks to Jake Ryan, Desmond Morgan and the rest of the Michigan defense. He ran for a career-high 142 yards this past week against Purdue, but was held to just 58 yards Saturday in a 35-13 loss to Michigan.

Kirkwood is a physical back at 5'10", 216 pounds, but he couldn't faze the Wolverines defense, which already capped Michigan State star Le'Veon Bell at 68 yards in a 12-10 victory two weeks ago.

Target Devin Funchess

Earlier this year, I thought that Devin Funchess was well on his way to becoming a staple in the Wolverines offense.

He's not a flash-in-the-pan, I wrote. But wait, maybe he is.

It seems that way.

Funchess was targeted just thrice Saturday, with two passes coming his way in the first half. While one of the throws was well behind him, the other was quite catchable. Funchess has to find a way to be consistent and catch passes when he's targeted.

That's the only way he'll get more reps. And Michigan would be a dynamic offense with a legitimate threat at tight end.

Houdini Act: Roy Roundtree Sighting

Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesRoy Roundtree (right) celebrates during the Sugar Bowl. However, he hasn't done much of that this year.

He's been spotty this season, and a Roy Roundtree catch has been as anonymous and rare as a Fitz Toussaint touchdown.

However, Roundtree's 48-yard catch in the fourth quarter set up Devin Gardner's two-yard touchdown run—so he deserves a nod of respect for coming through when Michigan needed him to help seal the deal against the Gophers.

Gardner's touchdown gave Michigan a 27-10 lead prior to Brendan Gibbons' point-after attempt.

JT Floyd Has to Look at Ball

But he needs to look back at the ball or risk getting called for pass interference, something that's happened at least twice this season.

And that was prior to Saturday's call.

Floyd draped Gophers receiver Marquise Gray, a 6'5", 250-pounder. Sure, the size advantage was clearly in Gray's favor, but Floyd didn't even bother to look back at the ball.

Had he played the ball and not Gray, a pass interference call would have been much more difficult to make.

Floyd was later called for interference during a play near the right front pylon on the same fourth-quarter drive—just another example of poor awareness by Floyd. Luckily, Minnesota got a field goal out of the gift-wrapped drive.